Urban Chickens

Residents are allowed three of one kind of animal and a total of four animals. Legal pets include hares, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice, gerbils, chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, doves, pigeons, game birds of any species, as well as cats and dogs. According to the health code, donkeys, mules, cows and goats (all "even-toed hooved animals") require a permit, though senior health inspector Helen Zverina told me that pot bellied pigs and pygmy goats were also defined as pets. Contrary to common belief, roosters are not outlawed. But if there's a complaint, the city will take away the bird based on noise abatement.

If you're a chicken farmer in Noe, what are your hints/tips/tricks/trials/tribulations? Do you use an Eglu or something more traditional? Raccoons an issue? Where do you get your chicks? What do you feed them? Is it worth the hassle to raise them vs. the $7/dozen for farm fresh eggs at the Noe Valley Farmer's Market? Curious minds want to know.